Photo: ICE
Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts has resigned from his role following his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over allegations that he's in the country illegally.
In a letter shared by his attorney, Alfredo Parrish, Roberts said he was stepping down “out of concern for his 30,000 students” and to avoid distracting from the district’s mission, per ABC News.
“Dr. Roberts does not want to distract the Board, educators, and staff from focusing on educating DMPS's students,” Roberts' letter to the Des Moines School Board reads.
Roberts' resignation comes after he was arrested by ICE on Friday (September 26). According to ICE, Roberts is a citizen of Guyana who remained in the U.S. despite having a final order of removal and no work authorization. Roberts came to the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, but was issued a final deportation order in May 2024, ICE said. When he was arrested, Roberts was allegedly carrying a loaded handgun and $3,000 in cash.
Parrish said a motion to stay the removal order was filed in immigration court in Omaha, Nebraska. A motion to reopen Roberts' immigration case was also filed on Tuesday (September 30).
“This is a very complex case… there are a lot of what I would call a myriad of issues that are involved,” Parrish said during a press conference.
The Des Moines School Board said it wasn't aware of Roberts’ immigration issues at the time of his hiring in July 2023. Board chair Jackie Norris said Roberts submitted a driver’s license and Social Security card, and identified himself as a U.S. citizen on his job application.
“At no point was any DMPS employee or board member notified that Dr. Roberts was not eligible to work by a federal agency or Dr. Roberts,” Norris said.
Roberts’ administrator license was revoked on Monday (September 29) by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, and the school board placed him on unpaid administrative leave. He was given until noon on Tuesday to provide proof of work eligibility or face termination.
Roberts is currently being held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, Iowa. Parrish said he is “in good spirits” and deeply concerned for his students.
“The students love him, and he loves the students,” Parrish said.
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